Bayaning Pilipino Awards 1995

INIDIVIDUAL CATEGORY

Librada Galeon (National Winner)

• YCF, San Antonio, 8000 Agdao, Davao City
• Deceased
• Region 11

Mrs. Galeon has served as a volunteer leader in her community since 1982, receiving only a meager allowance.  She initiated and facilitated implementation of projects for community development including health and dental care, women’s cooperative, childhood development, social program, and low-cost settlement.

Her long record of volunteer work shows her unity with the community in its struggle to achieve its socio-economic needs.  In spite of her limited (i.e., she just finishes high school) education, she has extended her time and efforts to be of service to the community.

As a volunteer worker, Mrs. Galeon has been/is directly involved in many pro-poor / pro-marginalized activities in locality, among which are:

1.    As a project coordinator, she gives preference to the poorer members of the community to become beneficiaries of their social credit programs.

2.    She was able to acquire financial assistance for their social credit programs and toilet construction projects that benefited families without their own toilet facilities.

3.    She was able to secure financial support from the Community Mortgage Program that facilitated the acquisition of land by almost 200 families in her community.

4.    As the President of YCF Village Integrated Settlers Association, Inc., she has maintained the members’ spirit of unity through “Bayanihan” efforts of digging canals, cleaning the drainage system, and sanitation maintenance.

5.    She has served as resource person for many training’s on micro-enterprise, project proposal making, preparation of feasibility studies to several urban poor organizations such as:  Nagkahiusang Kabus sa San Vicente in YCF Ocean Treasure in Lanang Creek, and even Talomo, Matina and Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

For most of her services as a volunteer worker, she was given only free meals and fare allowance.  Monetary compensation is not her priority because her mission is be always of service to her community.  A noteworthy instance is when she was given a small honorarium as Project Coordinator of AADP-funded programs.  She shared the P2,000.00 honorarium with another grassroots organization, the project manager used the balance for office supplies and other administrative expenses.

REGIONAL WINNERS

1. Roland Simbulan - Padre Faura St., Manila (NCR)
2. Marilyn Ngales - Baguio City (CAR)
3. Ma. Teresa Beñas - Bangued, Abra (CAR)
4. Dr. Cynthia Guevarra - Balanga, Bataan (Region 3)
5. Dr. Burton Onate (Deceased) - Los Baños Laguna (Region 4-A)
6. Leonor Josefina Sevilla - Lucena City (Region 4-A)
7. Milagros Javier - Bacolod City (Region 6)
8. Rosa Balbon (Deceased) - Negros Oriental (Region 6)
9. Dr. Fe Wale - Dumaguete City (Region 7)
10. Dr. Alejandro Catalan - Calbayog City (Region 8)
11. Dr. Perfecto Bautista - Sultan Kudarat (Region 12)

FAMILY CATEGORY

Santos Family (National Winner)

• Laoag City
• Region 1

The Santos Family put up and manages and education foundation in Laoag City that helps indigent and deserving students.  Most of the students they have helped are now professionals with stable jobs.

The Santoses granted beginning entrepreneurs of indigent families a small capital through the program, BILEG, which aims to help the poor raise their socio-economic status.

All members of the family join in the projects that serve the poor and the sick.  The whole family extends services willingly and out of their own initiative.  The children of the Santos family have the chances to work abroad but they prefer to work here because of their honest aim to serve their compatriots.  They strongly believe in the saying,  “The family that prays together stays together.”

The family provide free medical and dental services in depressed barangays of Ilocos Norte.  The Santoses are always visible during times of calamity, rendering material and psychological support to those in need.  The parents are invited as resource speakers in seminars on various issues that include migrant workers, family enrichment, values’ reconstruction, and different women oriented issues.

The children make use of their profession to reach out to the needy.  There are three sons and a daughter in the family.  One of the sons who is a doctor, in involved in holding free medical clinics for foster children under the Lingap Pangkabataan, Inc., while the other son who is a lawyer helps people in their legal problems.  The only daughter conducts Vacation Bible School in their own home during summer.

The Santos family has displayed a united dedication to serve their community in as many possible ways.  The participation of each member of the family in there varied services shows that Mr. and Mrs. Ireneo Santos have taught their children successfully the virtue of selflessness and generosity.

REGIONAL WINNERS

1. Lukban Family - Novaliches, Q.C. (NCR)
2. Habito Family - Los Baños Laguna (Region 4-A)
3. Aribon Family - Masbate (Region 5)
4. Abastilla Family - Bacolod City (Region 6)
5. Tia Family - Camiguin (Region 10)
6. Sim Family - South Cotabato (Region 11)

INSTITUTION CATEGORY

Mother's Family Multi-Purpose Cooperative-MOFAMCO (National Winner)

• Baguio City
• Cordillera Autonomous Region

MOFAMCO was founded in April 1985.  Its primary objective is to enhance the socio-economic life of poor women and their families in Baguio and nearby Benguet areas.  Its major programs consist of Christian life and cooperative education to its members; promotion of thrift and saving; provision of such service as loans and consumer goods; and advocacy as well as implementation of environmental, gender, and women-empowerment issues.

For the past 10 years, its members have availed of the aforementioned services on a continual basis.  The members are also trained to practice sound financial management using the cooperative’s commonly established rules and guidelines.

As a group, MOFAMCO has upheld the Filipino values of Bayanihan, Pagkakawanggawa and Patriotism.

MOFAMCO’s Ten-year existence would not have been possible without its mission that is to uplift the standards of socio economic life of its members.  This mission has been lived out and followed over the years by the cooperative and its leaders, benefiting hundred of poor families in Baguio and Benguet.

REGIONAL WINNERS

1. Paninindigan ng Homeowners Association (PAMANA) - Novaliches, Q.C. (NCR)
2. Family Food Production Foundation, Inc. (FFPF) - Bacolod City (Region 6)
3. PALO Fishwarden Association (PFWA) - Palo, Leyte (Region 8)